Cameroon beat Equatorial Guinea, 3 -0, last Saturday to top Group Five of the ongoing qualifiers of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

The second playing day of the qualifiers for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana took place over the weekend. In Yaounde, Cameroon’s national football team, the Indomitable Lions, received the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea. The last 20 minutes of the encounter were the most eventful. Cameroon succeeded to make a break through, after a laborious 70-minute of play. Substitute, Idrissou Mohamadou scored twice (72’, 89’), while Achille Webo (79’) found the net once to give Cameroon a 3 -0 victory over Equatorial Guinea. The victory reaffirmed the Lion’s supremacy in Group Five. Cameroon now has a commanding lead in the group with six points and six goals.

Most Cameroonians were certain of a victory last Saturday. The Lions began the match forcefully, breaking through the Equatorial Guinean defence at the third minute. Unfortunately, the early goal was denied by Tunisian referee, Daami Mourad because of an off side. The swift attack was however enough warning for the Equatorial Guinean Captain, Benjamin Zarandona and his mates to tighten their defence. Wherefore the defensive option for the rest of the first half. This tactic of Coach Quique Setien of Equatorial Guinea paid off. Despite the numerous onslaughts and better ball possession, the Lions did not succeed to touch the net of agile goalkeeper Danilo Emmanuel. As the match progressed, the Lions lost steam, lacked coordination in their play style and excelled in untargeted passes and wild shots at the pole. Spectators, in dire need of goals, almost lost their patience. Understandably why the virgin draw at half time was a bitter pill to swallow by most Cameroonians. Some spectators even booed at the Lions as they went off to the dressing room.

On resumption, Arie Haan, who was on the first outing with the Lions in Yaounde, made a few changes to his squad. Idrissou Mohamadou, called up at the last minute to replace injured striker,

Samuel Eto’o, was brought in at the 50th minute to replace Guy Feutchine. The option paid off as the MSV Duisburg striker scored in the 72nd minute with a diving header from a cross by Jean Makoun. The goal enliven the close to 40,000 spectators at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium, most of whom were already soaked following the heavy down pour that began at half time. Achille Webo increased the goal tally to two for Cameroon at the 78th minutes, before Idrissou made the difference again at the 89th minute with a beautiful header.

The two victories in the last two outings of the Indomtable Lions (3-0 against Rwanda and 3-0 against Equatorial Guinea) have once more given buoyancy to the team as well as reunite it with fans that were already losing confidence in the squad.

To the Equatorial Guineans, all is not lost. "Some years back, we would have bagged home six goals. The result is an indication that we have progressed", Mesaka Silvestre, of the Equatorial Guinean squad said. They plan to work harder for the next match and most particularly the return encounter against the Lions in September 2007. The next outing of the Lions will be in March, 2007 in Yaounde. Captain Song and his mate will face Liberia.